Settler



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

H. H. SGOVILLB SETTLER.

Patented Sept. 21, 1886..

l/VVE/VTOR SFW, H. M

. By Af/urney r (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

V H. 11. SCOVILLE.

SETTLER.

No. 349,458. Patented Sept, 21, 1886.

NI'TED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

IIIRAM H. SOOVILLE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ISETTLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 349,458, dated September 21, 1886.

Application filed December 10, 1885. Serial No. 185,236. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HIRAM H. SoovILLE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have made a new and useful Improvement in Settlers for the Reduction of Ores and for other Purposes, of which the following is a specification.

In order to properly describe my invention it will be necessary to refer to defects apparent in the present form of settlers.

The settler may be briefly described as a large pan, similar to an amalgamating-pan, with bottom inclining downward and outward, to contain the pulverized ore in aqueous solution, with revolving radial arms carrying shoes that rest and ride upon the bottom of the pan, to prevent the material from settling too rapidly, these arms to have just sufficient motion to hold the lighter particles in suspension, and not enough to prevent precipitation of the mineral. It is evident, therefore, that a fixed degree of uniform motion is indispensable, and that in the ordinary settler it cannot be attained except in a small fraction of its diameter, owing to the difference in the speed of the radial arms at different points between the center and circumference.

The object of my invention is to avoid this difficulty, to render the entire diameter of the settler available, to give uniformity of motion and admit of the highest speed compatible with the service contemplated, and to effect which, in addition to the pan and radial arms above described, I construct and attach to the pan a mechanical movement, as shown in the accompanying drawings, to which reference is made as forming part of this specification, in Which- Figure 1 is an elevation in section of my improved settler; Fig. 2, a plan of the same. Fig. 3 shows the direction of the movement of the different parts with reference to each other, and Fig. 4 shows the line of motion described by the shoes, in the details of ,which A represents the pan or tub; B, bottom of same; 0, hollow central cone rigid with pan A; d, shaft driven by bevel-gearing f and f from pulleys a a, and passing upward through cone 0 revolves driving-head or spider E; E, driving-head or'spider, revolving in a horizontal plane and carrying radial projections common to all settlers; J ,spur' wheel feathered on rigid cone 0; J, pinions running on studs in the radial projections, acting as intermediates for reversing motion; H, spurs having their bearings at the extremity of the radial projections at W, and are driven by the reversing-pinions J; m, revolving arms centrally attached to spurs H and at the two ends by vertical connections to shoes K; n,vertical connections between revolving arms at and shoes K; K, shoes resting upon the bottom of and revolving horizontally and spirally within pan A; 3 an eccentric groove or conduit commencing near the center of the pan and terminating at the quicksilver bowl M 1 at the circumference. This conduit is shallow at its commencement near the center and gradually increases in depth as it approaches the circumference, to aid by gravity the centrifugal tendency imparted by the motion of shoes K to the quicksilver.

Operation: Motion being imparted to spider E in the direction indicatedby arrows O O, pinions J (being geared into stationary spurwheel J revolve with accelerated speed in the same direction, communicating motion in the opposite direction to spur-wheels H, as shown by arrows? P, Fig. 4. This equalizes the motion of shoes K with reference to their position, whethertnear the center or the circumference of the pan, diminishing the high speed by running in the direction opposite to the motion of spider E at the circumference, and compensates for the low speed due to the lesser radius when near the center by the coincidence of the motion of the shoes with thatof the spider E,

Very good results can be obtained by dispensing with reversing-pinions J, since the general motion of shoes K, each revolving with uniform speed upon its own axis, utilizes the entire space within the pan; but it is evident that by reversing the direction of their motion compensation is secured for the variation of speed due to the ever-changing position of the shoes.

Although the primary object of my inven tion is to provide an improved settler, its value is apparent as an improvement giving uniformity of motion in grinding and amalgamating devices, as well as in other departments wherein similar service-is required, and this specification is intended to include the various uses not herein enumerated to which it may be applied.

I am aware that the combination of a rigid central spur-wheel with rotating arms connected with the same through direct gearing to give a planetary movement to mullers for amalgamators has been used; but the devices heretofore employed, and which have been secured by Letters Patent, have had an opposite tendency from that sought to be attained by myinvention-viz., to increase rather than to diminish the difference of speed on the grinding-surfaces at points of different radii in the bottom of the pan, while by the addition of intermediate pinions, J, I reverse the direction of motion, as above stated, and the speed of the mullers over the entire surface of the bottom of the pan is equalized by retarding the speed of the mullers at the circumference through impulsion in opposite directions and The combination, in a pan or settler, with spur-wheel J and wheel H, giving the axial and planetary motions, of intermediate pinion, J, for reversing and, by reversing, equalizing the motion of shoesKKin pan A, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

HIRAM H. SGOVILLE. WVitnesses:

H. B. MARTIN, D. D. DRUMMOND. 

